Transmembrane peptides used to investigate the homo-oligomeric interface and binding hot-spot of Latent Membrane Protein 1: Studying self-association of the transmembrane domain of LMP-1

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human γ-herpesvirus, establishes lifelong infection by targeting the adaptive immune system of the host through memory B cells. While normally benign, EBV contributes to lymphoid malignancies and lymphoproliferative syndromes in immunocompromised individuals. The viral oncoprotein Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP-1) is essential for B lymphocyte immortalization by EBV. The constitutive signaling activity of LMP-1 is dependent on homo-oligomerization of its six-spanning hydrophobic transmembrane domain (TMD). However, the mechanism driving LMP-1 intermolecular interaction is poorly understood. Here we show that the fifth transmembrane helix (TM5) of LMP-1 strongly self-associates, forming a homotrimeric complex mediated by a polar residue embedded in the membrane, D150. Replacement of this aspartic acid residue with alanine disrupts TM5 self-association in detergent micelles and bacterial cell membranes. A full length LMP-1 variant harboring the D150A substitution is deficient in NFκB activation, supporting the key role of the fifth transmembrane helix in constitutive activation of signaling by this oncoprotein.